Clear Creek Amana put up the “no passing” sign on their end of the field and frustrated the Mount Vernon forwards in a boys’ soccer match on Tuesday, April 7, at the Martha Parsons Activities Complex.
CCA won, 2-0.
“Their center backs were pretty elite-level high school players that make pretty good decisions,” Mount Vernon coach Nathan Grosse said. “They made it hard to play through.”
Eisa Ebdala and Aiden Gross frustrated the Mustangs on a chilly night. Mount Vernon (2-1-1) struggled to even get the ball on their half of the field.
“They had a really strong defense with their two center backs,” senior forward Cash Luneckas said. “You have to give it to them, they had us on the ropes.”
CCA put the pressure on Mount Vernon by getting a goal with about 15 minutes remaining in the first half. Amgad Saeed converted when Mustang goalie Zion Safo came out of the goalie box to defend the ball.
Safo made some big saves to keep the Mustangs in the game, including a big deflection right before halftime, and turning away a penalty shot with about 15 minutes to play. On that one, he stopped the initial shot, then stopped it again when the ball rebounded off him.
“He’s a big-time keeper,” Grosse said. “He has a real love for the game, and has the composure and confidence back there.”
Mount Vernon could not get the equalizer, and eventually had to take a few chances.
“We were down late and opened it up in the back,” Grosse said. “So, that last CCA goal count, but at that point we were trying to equalize.
“When you are chasing a score, down one, you find the need to force it.”
CCA scored its second goal in the final minute when Kamden Trana converted a deflection off a Jordan Alavez shot.
On Thursday, April 9, Mount Vernon and Grinnell ended things in a 1-1 tie.
Carter Gadberry hit the game-tying goal for the Mustangs.